Sexual Exploitation Awareness Week

March 5 – 11, 2018 is

Stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week.

March 5th to 11th, is the 20th annual Stop the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Youth Awareness Week in British Columbia. The week recognizes the importance of supporting communities to develop prevention, education, enforcement and intervention strategies to address the sexual exploitation of children and youth.

Activities during the week include the Fuchsia Ribbon Campaign as well as community-based events held throughout the province.

Sexual exploitation of children and youth under the age of 18 years is any type of sexual activity with children and youth in exchange for money, drugs, food, shelter or any other considerations. This is the case whether or not children or youth consider themselves to be consenting.

Sexual exploitation of children and youth is never considered prostitution or consensual.

Are seduced, manipulated or coerced to take sexual pictures/videos of themselves (i.e., child pornography) that can be sent over the internet

Some youth feel they are not being exploited, and that they have chosen to exchange sexual acts for resources. But sexual exploitation is not employment or a chosen occupation; it is a form of sexual abuse.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual exploitation, please contact VictimLinkBC.